Bedford Schools Explores Adding Virtual Academy

Bedford Public Schools is exploring the idea of adding a virtual academy to its curriculum.

Ed Manuszak, assistant superintendent of instructional and student services, gave a presentation about the idea to the board of education last week at its committee of the whole meeting.

Mr. Manuszak and a committee of teachers and school administrators began discussing a virtual academy in the fall.

The option would allow students who have left Bedford High School for various reasons, including relocating or expulsion, to attend classes without having to be on the school’s campus.

It also could allow current students a chance to catch up on required credits if they have fallen behind.

The Bedford Virtual Academy would be housed in a classroom at BHS.

While the courses would be completed online, a qualified teacher would oversee the program and students would be required to visit the school and meet with that teacher weekly so the students’ progress could be monitored.

At least to begin with, only 30 students maximum would be allowed to enroll in the academy.

“It would be a school within a school,” Mr. Manuszak said.

The virtual academy committee visited area high schools that offer similar programs, including Monroe High School, Airport High School and Tecumseh High School. This allowed them to ask questions of teachers and students who take part in the programs and get direct feedback.

Mr. Manuszak has been in contact with the administrators of those programs and will remain in contact with them as Bedford begins its pilot.

“After our visits, we realized we could do this ourselves; we didn’t need a third party to operate it (like some schools use),” he said.

Bedford’s graduation rate is more than 90 percent. When students leave the district, that rate is affected and the district’s level of per-pupil funding drops.

There also are families in the area who use homeschooling or private schools. Mr. Manuszak said he believed the virtual academy would attract those families to Bedford and keep that money within the schools.

“We want to get as many of our kids that enroll in the district to graduation as possible,” Mr. Manuszak said. “For whatever reason, some students don’t want to be a part of the main campus because they like to learn in a different way or because they have been expelled. This gives them another option.”

The board will continue discussions and decide whether to launch a pilot program at its May 1 meeting.